Monty Hight: Stay out of parking spots for disabled

I meet with a small group of friends every Thursday at Tapas in our attempt to solve all the worlds' problems.

These are known as our "Bored Meetings." For the most part we can't figure out which appetizer to order, let alone the complex issues of today's world. But we like to think we know something about something.

My friend Maurice did not hesitate to vent his frustrations at drivers who pull into disabled parking slots without a special license plate or a distinguishing placard then walk away without a second thought.

We discussed this issue at some length. First, here is what the vehicle code states regarding this issue: "It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in a stall or space designated for disabled people and disabled veterans, unless the vehicle displays either a special identification license plate or a distinguishing placard."

The issue that came to light was the number of people who are operating vehicles that have the plates or placards, but the people that they were intended for are not in the vehicles.

There is no question that people who qualify for these special plates or placards deserve the access to the various businesses that they frequent. It's also possible that the individual's disability may be something that myself or Maurice may not be aware of. But this really isn't a complaint against those folks.

This is a call-out to those individuals who borrow their disabled uncle's car with the assigned plate. Even though they are driving to Costco to pick up a few items the uncle has asked them to pick up, they somehow justify pulling into a disabled stall while the uncle is back home in his lounger.

The California Vehicle Code a few years ago authorized law enforcement to actually request proof of identification from those using these parking spaces. The problem is that most times the vehicles are parked and the occupants are inside the store. It's not really something for which an officer is going to stand around and wait to encounter the occupants as they return to the vehicle.

Since I waited until Friday evening to write this column, I was not able to check if here in Redding, or, for that fact, anywhere in Shasta County there is a special enforcement unit that has been authorized to deal with these specific issues.

I am aware that Redding police did have folks who handled parking enforcement, but because of budgetary issues, their numbers are small or nonexistent.

There are folks who work with the city and county who handle many of the parking concerns within the confines of the city and county permit lots, but I'll be checking on the general areas open to the public and specifically disabled parking concerns.

The California Vehicle Code states: Local authorities may establish a special enforcement unit for the sole purpose of providing adequate enforcement of Section 22507.8 (disabled parking stalls) and local ordinances and resolutions.

"Local authorities may establish recruitment and employment guidelines that encourage and enable employment of qualified disabled people in these special enforcement units.

"Members of the special enforcement unit may issue notices of parking violation for violations of Section 22507.8 and local ordinances adopted pursuant to Section 22511.7. Members of the special enforcement unit shall not be peace officers and shall not make arrests in the course of their official duties, but shall wear distinctive uniforms and badges while on duty. A two-way radio unit, which may use police frequencies or citizens band, may be issued by the local authority to each member of the special enforcement unit for use while on duty.

"The local authority may pay the cost of uniforms and badges for the special enforcement unit, and may provide daily cleaning of the uniforms. Additionally, the local authority may provide motorized wheelchairs for use by members of the special unit while on duty, including batteries and necessary recharging thereof. Any motorized wheelchair used by a member of the special enforcement unit while on duty shall be equipped with a single headlamp in the front and a single stop lamp in the rear.

"Members of the special enforcement unit may be paid an hourly wage without the compensatory benefits provided other permanent and temporary employees, but shall be entitled to applicable workers' compensation benefits as provided by law. Insurance provided by the local authority for disability or liability of a member of the special enforcement unit shall be the same as for other employees performing similar duties.

"Nothing in this section precludes a local authority from using regular full-time employees to enforce this chapter and ordinances adopted pursuant thereto.

"This section applies to all counties and cities, including every charter city and city and county."

I can already see the lines forming with all the folks who would like to volunteer for this job, at least for a little while.

I have another friend, Jim, who also is retired from the California Highway Patrol and would not hesitate to volunteer to go out and issue citations to every one of those folks who not only are unlawfully parking in disabled slots but also haven't paid their vehicle registration or keep their vehicle registered out of state to avoid paying higher registration fees.

The point of all of this is that those stalls are there for those folks who are authorized to park in them. For those who choose to park where they are not legally entitled to, I say the fines are not high enough.

We have far too many veterans who have suffered great loss. Not to afford them at least a decent parking stall would be wrong. For all of those folks who have suffered a physical disability, I am just happy that I'm not eligible for one of those special plates.

Let them park front row center and I can continue to park out in the north 40, where I can get a little exercise and fewer door dents knowing that I'm still able to go out and enjoy the ride.